Arkansas’ Unemployment Rate Declines to 3.4% in April

05/17/2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- May 17, 2024
Zoe Calkins, Communications Director, Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, zoe.calkins@arkansas.gov

Arkansas’ Unemployment Rate Declines to 3.4% in April

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (May 17, 2024) Today, the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, in conjunction with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, announced Arkansas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point, from 3.5% in March to 3.4% in April. At 3.9%, the United States jobless rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point between March and April.

Arkansas Civilian Labor Force Summary:

Arkansas’ civilian labor force increased by 2,731 in April, as 3,557 more Arkansans are employed since March. The civilian labor force and the number of employed are both at record high levels. The unemployment rate declined to 3.4%, while the States’ labor force participation rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point.
Compared to April 2023, employment is up by 6,594. There are now 8,424 more unemployed Arkansans actively looking for work, pushing the unemployment rate up six-tenths of a percentage point. The labor force participation rate remained stable over the year.

Arkansas Nonfarm Payroll Job Summary:

In April, nonfarm payroll jobs rose by 13,900 to reach 1,377,000. This total set a new record high level of jobs in Arkansas. Leisure and Hospitality (+5,100) and Trade-Transportation-Utilities (+2,100) added the most jobs over the month.
Compared to April 2023, there are 24,100 more jobs in the State. The largest annual growth was posted in Private Education and Health Services (+7,200), Construction (+5,000), Trade-Transportation-Utilities(+4,400), and Leisure and Hospitality (+4,400).